Animated toy



. J. A. LINKS ETAL ANIMATED TOY April 12, 1949 S Sheets-Sheei 1 Filed Jan. 11, 1947 INVENTORS f/L/n/v A. Luv/(s y CLQ/PE N. FkEE/WHN M W We April12,1949. A I 1NKS 2,467,139

ANIMATED TOY Filed Jan. 11, 1947 I s Sheets-Sheet 2 BY WI 2 24216,,-

April 12, 1949. J, |NK ETAL 2,467,139

ANIMATED 'I'QY Filed Jan. 11, 1941 s ShetS-Sheet s Arron/v5 Y8 Patented Apr. 12, 194-9 ANIMATED TOY Julian A. Links, San Francisco, and Claire M. Freeman, Pedro Valley, Calif.

Application January 11, 1947, Serial No. 721,654

15 Claims.

This invention relates to an animated toy and has for its main object the provision of a simple, attractive, economical toy adapted to be actuated for movement by manual manipulation and gravity free from motors, strings, wires, etc., and which toy is practically indestructible in normal use.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a toy that is adapted to be manipulated by a child and that includes a movable part that is adapted to be moved. in response to certain manual manipulations by the child, and which movements may vary in their complexity as the child progressively acquires greater muscular and nervous coordination, thus developing such coordination.

Other objects and advantages will appear in the description and in the drawings.

In the drawings,

Fig. 1 is a front view, partly in section, of a toy figure illustrative of the invention.

Fig. 2 is an elevational view of one part of the figure of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a bottom plan view of the part shown in Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken along line 44 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a part-sectional and part-elevational view of the base for the toy figure.

Fig. 6 is a bottom plan View of the base of Fig. 5.

Fig. '7 is a perspective view of one dress adapted to be placed on the figure.

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the two sections that make up the dress shown on the toy figure of Fig, 1.v

Fig. 9 is a reduced size top plan view of the complete toy.

Fig. 10 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken along line 13-! ii of Fig. 9.

Fig- 11 is a modified sectional View of the part shown in Fig. 10.

Fig. 12 is a still further sectional view showing a modification ofv thepart illustrated in Figs. 10-, 11.

Fig. 13' is an elevational View, partly broken away and in section, illustrating a slightly difierent form of the invention than is shown in Fig; 1.

Fig. 14 is a top plan. view of the invention that isshown in Fig. 13.

Fig. 15 is a side elevational view of an additional form of the invention.

In detail the invention as illustrated comprises a base (Figs. 5 6), having'a downwardly opening recess 2 formed in its under side and a flat upper end wall 3 closing the upper end of said recess.

The base I is preferably circular in plan View and the recess is preferably also circular and coaxial With the central axis of the base. Inasmuch as the latter is horizontal or generally hori. zontal when in use, its principal axis will ex"- tend vertically.

The outer surface of the lateral sides of the base I is frusto-conical in shape, and the inner sides of the recess may be substantially parallel with the outer sides for at least half the depth of the recess starting from the end wall 3 as indicated at 4 (Fig. 5), and the said inner sides may then extend vertically as at 5 to almost the lower edge of the base where the inside corner of the wall of the recess adjacent said lower edge of the base may be cut away or rabbeted to provide a. narrow annular edge 6 lowermost on said base.

By the above structure, it will be seen that the side walls of the base are thickest at 1 adjacent their lower edge, thus concentrating weight along said edge, while the lowermost surface at the lower edge of the base that is adapted to contact h a supporting surface is very slight. This thin" edge 6 will have little frictional resistance against a fiat supporting surface, which is desirable, as

will later be explained more in detail.

Within the recess 2 is a ball 9. The diameterof ball 9 is only a fraction of the diameter of the recess 2, but its diameter is slightly greater than the depth of the recess from the level of the lowermost edge 6 to the lower side of the end wall 3. Thus the said base will be slightly tilted relative to the fiat upper surface Ill of a supporting member or plate II when the ball is at one side of said recess. When said ball is at one side of the recess, the edge 6 will contact the said surface Id at one point only and at the side'of' the recess substantially opposite the side nearest ball 9.

A figure is adapted to be supported on the-base I, and which figure may simulate almost any'oliject desired, although, one that normally has life, such as an animal, is preferred to an in animate object. In Figs. 1, 9, a female human form is simulated.

The preferred structure of said form comprises a hollow frusto-conical skirt l3 (Figs. 2, 3) open at its upper and its lower end. The smallest diameter end of said skirt portion is uppermost, and the lower part of said portion is adapted: to receive, and substantially enclose said base I; A good frictional contact is provided between the inner conical surface of the lower marginal per:-

tion of said skirt and the conical outer surface of said base. This engagement between said inner and outer conical surfaces also insures selfcentering or Vertical alignment of the figure over said base, which is important in obtaining a proper balance for the figure, as will later appear more clearly.

While the member designated I3 is called a skirt or skirt portion, this term may be considered to be used both from the engineering standpoint and from the standpoint of dress where the female form is concerned, although otherwise its use is in the engineering sense.

Various dresses (outer skirts) may be readily held on the skirt portion 3, and such dresses may be annular members l4, l (Fig. 8) stamped from paper, or they may be shirred ribbon, etc., as indicated, to simulate a dress. The central apertures l6, IT in said members are of diiferent diameters. For instance, the aperture being larger, will fit on the skirt portion l3 lower down than the member I4 that has the smaller aperture. Thus the numbers I4, I5 will be spaced apart as seen in Fig. 1 and will simulate in appearance a more or less complicated dress with flounces, although the structure is very simple and economical to make.

The dress of Fig. 1 may be readily changed to the dress of Fig. 7 that somewhat simulates a hula skirt, having strands I8 of fibrous material suspended from the edge of an annular disk l9 that has a relatively small central opening adapted to fit on skirt I3 fairly near the top of the latter. From the foregoing it will be seen that many types of dresses may be used, although from the standpoint of economy, the one illustrated in Fig. 8 is preferable. The fact that a central opening in any style of dress is all that is required for fitting the dress to the figure is an advantage over dresses that require snaps, tabs, hooks, etc., for securing them on a figure, and the frusto-conical skirt structure of the present figure makes applicants dress structure possible.

The skirt portion |3 may be of any suitable material, such as cardboard, sheet or molded plastic, etc., and is preferably fairly rigid so as to withstand handling without injury and to support the trunk portion 2| and head 22, as

well as the arms 23, the latter being pivotally secured to opposite sides of the body portion 2| by a pin 24 extending through the latter near the upper end thereof.

Said body 2| may be solid or hollow and of any suitable material, such as wood, composition material, etc., and its outer lateral sides are preferably concentric about a vertical axis, tapering outwardly as they go upwardly from a slightly out-flaring lowermost portion that fits within the upper end of the frusto conical skirt I3.

- The outward taper of said sides from said portion 25 terminates in a short cylindrical upper thorasic portion 26 and then the said sides taper inwardly for a short distance above said portion 26 providing the shoulder portion 21 with which the upper ends of arms 23 are in engagement, and through which the pivot pin 24 extends. This taper of said shoulder portion causes the arms 23 (which may be stamped from fiat cardboard or other semi-rigid material) to extend divergently downwardly over the sides of the body. This body or trunk portion 2| is centered over the skirt l3 and is releasably held upright over the latter, inasmuch as the outwardly flared 4 portion 25 is adapted to be forced into the upper end of the cone as there is sufficient expansion of the said upper end to permit said entry.

The upper end of said body 2| has a short neck 29 on which the head 22 is supported.

A vertical pin 30 may be carried by head 22 projecting downwardly therefrom, and which pin is adapted to releasably extend into said body 2| for securing said head on neck 29.

A wig or hair 3| may be secured on head 22, and the face of the latter may be painted to simulate the face of a girl. Pin 30 may function to secure the wig or hair 3| on the head as well as functioning to secure the head onto body portion 2|. Thus the hair may be changed from one color to any other color according to the number of wigs provided and their colors. Likewise heads may be changed, although it is not necessary to remove the head from the body to effect a change in the dress inasmuch as the head and body 2| may be removed together as a'unit.

The platforms or supporting plate H is preferably circular and is provided with an upstanding rim 35. Said plate may in turn be centrally supported on a second base plate 36 (Fig. 10) by a circular pad of sponge rubber 31 or the like (Figs. 9, 10). This pad may be of synthetic or real rubber, the principal thing being that it is resilient and sufficiently thick to enable an operator to give sufficient downward movement to the rim portion to cause a wobbletory movement of the plate II for effecting rotation of the ball 9 around the central vertical axis of the plate The word wobbletory is from the word wobble or wabble or a motion that resembles that of the upper end of a spinning top when it com mences to slow down, but in the instant case the plate is not revolved.

The operator may lift the plate H and base plate 36 and hold the same while causing said wobbletory movement of the plate I or the base plate may be on a table or the like. In some instances the pad 31 and base plate may be entirely eliminated, inasmuch as the desired motion can be given the plate without the pad and base plate, but with the pad the mere use of pressure on the plate H in the desired manner is easier than holding the plate I I while effecting said wobbletory movement.

In operation, when the figure of Fig. 1 is on plate I and the ball 9 that is in the base member is caused to revolve about the axis of the plate H as seen in Fig. 9, the base member and the figure therein, will rotate about the vertical axis of the figure as the latter is moved about the axis of plate I The figure wi1 pirouette on the the plate about the axis of the latter, and by reversing the direction of revolution of ball 9, the figure will reverse its whirling movement.

As seen in Fig. 12, a spring 40 might be used in the place of the pad 31, but the latter is preferred. Also, in Fig. 11, it will be seen that the base plate could be part of the container for the plate I I, such as the lid or the bottom of such container, and could have a flange 4| that would extend upwardly above the upper surface of plate 42 on which the dancing or pirouetting figure is supported. In such a case, the rim 35 on said plate is omitted, because flange 4| will serve to prevent the figure from accidentally moving off the plate.

In any instance, the pad 31 need not be fastened to plate 36 or to the container lid or base, but itshould be secured to the plate H. In this enemas way, the plate I' l: with the pad 3'1: attached thereto, could be transferred onto a table or any'other supporting surface, and unless the plate H is manually manipulated, said pad Will hold the plate horizontalv with the figure thereon.

Figs. 13, 14 show an adaptation of the base member I to a representation of the three men in a tub in which the skirt portion 5i is shorter than portion l3 of Fig. 1 and functions to retain the three figures 52. on the top of said base member. The figures 52 are equally spaced about the vertical axis of said base member and against the skirt 5!, thus balancing the assembly properly on ball 9 for revolving about the axis of said base member while the latter revolves about the axis of plate H.- spacers 53- may properly space said figures 52 and at the same time secure them together as a unit.

Fig. shows a modification of the invention that is illustrated in the preceding views. In this form of the invention, the base structure is identical with that shown in the preceding views, and for purpose of illustration, the figure is the same as shown in Fig. 1. However, the circular supporting plate, designated 60, is preferably formed with a radially outwardly projecting flange 6i that is adapted to be held at opposite sides of the plate by the hands for supporting the plate, and everything thereon free of a table or the like, if desired, although the plate carries a resilient support 62 on its underside that is preferably the same as the rubber support 3i of Figs. 9, 10.

The portion of the plate enclosed by flange El is elevated above said flange, and a transparent cover having cylindrical sides 63 and a top as is supported on said plate with the sides fairly closely receiving the circular elevated central portion 65 of plate 60.

This elevated central portion has a circular mirror 65 fitted in the top with its upper surface flush with an annular rim 6? extending around said mirror. Th'e'mirror 56 reflects upwardly and the base member 2 that supports the figure is at all times on said mirror, while the cover protects the figure and mirror from dirt and dust. The sides 53 of the cover prevent the figure from rolling oii the plate during actuation of the toy, and is removable to obtain access to the figure, if desired.

A ribbon 6:8, or any other suitable handle may be secured to the cover.

This cover is preferably of clear, transparent plastic material and is non-flammable and substantially non-breakable.

In the claims, the use of the term figure is not intended to restrict the invention to one figure; only except where the structure as defined is necessarily specific to a single figure, nor are the detailed description and drawings intended to be restrictive of the invention. They are merely illustrative of a preferred form of the invention.

We claim:

1. An animated toy comprising a base for supporting a figure and a generally horizontally disposed plate having a flat upper surface", said base being formed with a circular, downwardly opening recess-having a flat, closed upper end, a ball within said recess supporting said base on said plate at a point adjacent one side of said recess, the diameter of said ball being a fraction of that of said recess but slightly greater than the depth of the latter, said. ball being free from securement' to: said plate and base: for rolling on said 6, plate in an arcuate' path of travel around: thevertical axis of the latter upon giving said plate: a generally wabb'letory' motion substantially free from rotation on said axis, and the lower side of said base being in frictional contact with said plate at a point along the side of said recess opposite said ball whereby said base will simultaneously move about said path and rotate on its axis.

2. Ananimated toy comprising a substantially irusto-conical base having its smaller diameter end uppermost and a fiat end. closing said upper end, the lower larger diameter end of said base being open, a flat horizontally disposed plate, a ball within said base and adjacent one side thereof for supporting said base slightly tilted relative to said plate with only one point on said base at the side thereof ,opposite said ball in contact with said plate, said ball being free from securement to said plate and base for rolling on said plate in an arcuate path of travel around the vertical axis of the latter upon giving said plate a generally Wabbletory motion substantially free from rotation on said axis.

3. An animated toy comprising a figure having. a circular base formed with a downwardly opening circular recess in its underside concentric therewith, a flat wall closing the upper end of said recess, a flat horizontal plate, a ball within said recess of a diameter that is only a fraction of the diameter of said recess, but that is slightly greater than the depth of the latter for supporting said base slightly tilted relative to said plate when said ball is at one side of said recess, said ball being free from securement to said base and plate for rolling about the vertical axis of the latter upon giving said plate a generally wobbletory motion substantially free from rotation, said base being in frictional contact with said plate at one point only during said rollingand at the side of said recess opposite the side nearest said ball whereby said base and figure will be caused to simultaneously rotate about the vertical axis of said base and figure and to revolve about said vertical axis of said plate.

l. An animated toy comprising a figure having a circular base formed with a downwardly opening circular recess in its underside concentric therewith, a fiat wall closing the upper end of said recess, a flat horizontal plate, a ball within said recess of a diameter that is only a fraction of the diameter of recess but that is slightly greater than the depth of the latter for supporting said base slightly tilted relative to said plate. when. said ball is at one side of said recess, said ball being rec from securernent to said base and plate for rolling about the vertical axis of the latter upon giving said plate a generally wabbletory motion substantially free from rotation, said base being in frictional contact with. said plate at one point only during said rolling and" at the side of said recess opposite the side nearest said ball whereby said base and figure will be caused to simultaneously rotate about the vertical axis of said base and figure and to revolve about said vertical axis of said plate, an annular rim around said plate projecting above the upper side thereof to prevent said toy from rolling off said plate during its movement on. the latter.

An animated toy comprising a figure having a circular base icrinerlwith a downwardly open.-

circular recess in its underside concentric therewith, a flat wall closing the upper end of said recess. a fiat horizontal plate, a ball within said recess. oi.v a diameter that is only a. fraction of the diameter of said recess but that is slightly greater than the depth of the latter for supporting said base slightly tilted relative to said plate when said ball is at one side of said recess, said ball being free from securement to said base and plate for rolling about the vertical axis of the latter upon giving said plate a generally wabbletory motion substantially free from rotation, said base being in frictional contact with said plate at one point only during said rolling and at the side of said recess opposite the side nearest said ball whereby said base and figure will be caused to simultaneously rotate about the vertical axis of said base and figure and to revolve about said vertical axis of said plate, an annular rim around said plate projecting above the upper side thereof to prevent said toy from rolling off said plate during its movement on the latter, said plate being movable for manual manipulation in a manner for causing said wobbletory motion.

6. An animated toy comprising a base for supporting a figure, said base being formed with a circular, downwardly opening recess having a flat, closed upper end, a ball adapted to be positioned within said recess, the diameter of said ball being a fraction of the diameter of said recess, but slightly greater than the depth of the latter whereby said ball will support said base on a flat, horizontal surface in a slightly tilted position with said base contacting such surface at one point only at one side of said recess when the ball is at the opposite side of the recess, said ball being free from securement to the sides and flat upper end of said recess.

7. An animated toy comprising a base for supporting a figure, said base being formed with a circular, downwardly opening recess having a fiat, closed upper end, a ball adapted to be positioned within said recess, the diameter of said ball being a fraction of the diameter of said recess, but slightly greater than the depth of the latter whereby said ball will support said base on a flat, horizontal surface in a slightly tilted position with said base contacting such surface at one point only at one side of said recess when the ball is at the opposite side of the recess, said ball being free from securement to the sides and flat upper end of said recess, the outer lateral sides of said base being of frusto-conical contour with the smaller diameter end uppermost, and

a figure having a hollow substantially frustcconical skirt portion adapted to releasably fit over said sides of said base for removably supporting said figure on the base projecting above the latter.

8. An animated toy comprising a base for supporting a figure, said base being formed with a circular, downwardly opening recess having a flat, closed upper end, a ball adapted to be po sitioned within said recess, the diameter of said ball being a fraction of the diameter of said recess, but slightly greater than the depth of the latter whereby said ball will support said base on a flat, horizontal surface in a slightly tilted position with said base contacting such surface at one point only at one side of said recess when the ball is at the opposite side of the recess, said ball being free from securement to the sides and flat upper end of said recess, a plate having a fiat horizontal upper surface for supporting said ball and base thereon with the latter so tilted, means for holding said plate with said surface horizontal, said means being yieldable under downward pressure of the fingers at any point around the edge of said plate to enable an operator to manually effect a wabbletory movement of said plate free from rotation of the latter to cause said ball and base to revolve around the central axis of said plate.

9. An animated toy comprising a base for supporting a figure, said base being formed with a downwardly opening recess having a flat closed upper end, curved sides and an endless curved lower edge around said recess that is in a plane parallel with the plane of said upper end, a ball adapted to be positioned within said recess, the diameter of said ball being a fraction of the minimum distance between upper sides of said recess, but slightly greater than the depth of said recess between said edge and said flat upper end whereby said ball will be adapted to support said base on a flat, horizontal surface in a slightly tilted position with said edge contacting such surface at one point only at one side of said recess when the ball is at the opposite side of the recess, said ball being free from securement to the sides and flat upper end of said recess for rolling relative to said base and for rotation of the said base about a generally verticall extending axis that is eccentric to the vertical axis of said ball when the latter is rolled in a path about an axis substantially concentric to the. vertical axis of said ball and said base.

10. In an animated toy of the character described, a hollow base having an open lower side and a closed upper end wall, having a flat lower side facing said open end, a ball adapted to be positioned within said base for supporting the latter tilted slightly relative to a fiat horizontal supporting surface when said ball is on such surface, a figure on said base generally simulating a human form and having a head, trunk and lower portion below the trunk, said lower portion being hollow and frusto-conical with its larger diameter end lowermost and enclosing said base, said trunk extending at its lower end into the smaller diameter end of said lower portion and removably secured in said latter end, said head being carried on said trunk, a dress on said lower portion comprising an annular radially extending member coaxial with said lower portion and removably supported on the slanted sides of said portion with said portion extending through the central opening of said member, said lower portion, dress, trunk and head being coaxial with the vertical axis of said figure whereby the latter will be in substantially uniform balance on said axis to permit uniform revolution thereof about the axis of said ball when the latter is in figure supporting position.

11. An animated toy comprising a base for supporting a figure and a generally horizontally disposedp-late having a fiat upper surface, said base being formed with a generally circular, downwardly opening recess having a flat, closed upper end, a ball within said recess supporting said base on said plate at a point adjacent one side of said recess, the diameter of said ball being a fraction of that of said recess but slightly greater than the depth of the latter, said ball being free from securement to said plate and base for rolling on said plate in an arcuate path of travel around the vertical axis of the latter upon giving said plate a generally wabbletory motion substantially free from rotation on said axis, and the lower side of said base being in frictional contact with said plate at a point along the side of said recess opposite said ball whereby said base will simultaneously move about said path and rotate on its axis, means around the edge of said plate projecting above its upper surface for retaining said base and figure therein during movement around said axis.

12. An animated toy comprising a base for supporting a figure and a generally horizontally disposed plate having a flat upper surface, said base being formed with a generally circular, downwardly opening recess having a fiat, closed upper end, a ball within said recess supporting said base on said plate at a point adjacent one side of said recess, the diameter of said ball being a fraction of that of said recess but slightly greater than the depth of the latter, said ball being free from securement to said plate and base for rolling on said plate in an arcuate path of travel around the vertical axis of the latter upon giving said plate a generally wabbletory motion substantially free from rotation on said axis, and the lower side of said base being in frictional contact with said plate at a point along the side of said recess opposite said ball whereby said base will simultaneously move about said path and rotate on its axis, means around the edge of said plate projecting above its upper surface for retaining said base and figure therein during movement around said axis, said last mentioned means comprising an upstanding flange on said plate.

13. An animated toy comprising a base for supporting a figure and a generally horizontally disposed plate having a fiat upper surface, said base being formed with a generally circular, downwardly opening recess having a flat, closed upper end, a ball within said recess supporting said base on said plate at a point adjacent one side of said recess, the diameter of said ball being a fraction of that of said recess but slightly greater than the depth of the latter, said ball being free from securement to said plate and base for rolling on said plate in an arcuate path of travel around the vertical axis of the latter upon giving said plate a generally wabbletory motion substantially free from rotation on said axis, and the lower side of said base being in frictional contact with said plate at a point along the side of said recess opposite said ball whereby said base will simultaneously move about said path and rotate on its axis, means around the edge of said plate projecting above its upper surface for retaining said base and figure therein during movement around said axis, said last mentioned means comprising a cylindrical wall concentric with said plate and projecting above the upper surface of the latter.

14. An animated toy comprising a base for Y supporting a figure and a generally horizontally disposed plate having a flat upper surface, said base being formed with a generally circular, downwardly opening recess having a flat, closed upper end, a ball within said recess supporting said base on said plate at a point adjacent one side of said recess, the diameter of said ball being a fraction of that of said recess but slightly 10 greater than the depth of the latter, said ball being free from securement to said plate and base for rolling on said plate in an arcuate path of travel around the vertical axis of the latter upon giving said plate a generally wabbletory motion substantially free from rotation on said axis, and the lower side of said base being in frictional contact with said plate at a point along the side of said recess opposite said ball whereby said base will simultaneously move about said path and rotate on its axis, means around the edge of said plate projecting above its upper surface for retaining said base and figure therein during movement around said axis, said last mentioned means comprising a transparent clo sure supported on said plate and having cylindrical walls extending around the latter.

15. An animated toy comprising a base for supporting a figure and a generally horizontally disposed plate having a flat upper surface, said base being formed with a generally circular, downwardly opening recess having a fiat, closed upper end. a ball within said recess supporting said base on said plate at a point adjacent one side of said recess, the diameter of said ball being a fraction of that of said recess but slightly greater than the depth of the latter, said ball being free from securement to said plate and base for rolling on said plate in an arcuate path of travel around the vertical axis of the latter upon giving said plate a generally wabbletory motion substantially free from rotation on said axis, and the lower side of said base being in frictional contact with said plate at a point along the side of said recess opposite said ball whereby said base will simultaneously move about said path and rotate on its axis, means around the edge of said plate projecting above its upper surface for retaining said base and figure therein during movement around said axis, said last mentioned means comprising a transparent closure supported on said plate and having cylindrical walls extending around the latter, said plate including an upwardly reflecting mirror on which said base is supported for rotation and over which the latter is movable in said path.

JULIAN A. LINKS. CLAIRE M. FREEMAN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 586,437 Howe July 13, 1897 742,250 Spencer Oct. 27, 1903 800,741 Howard Oct. 3, 1905 1,209,920 Young Dec. 26, 1916. 1,287,399 Murphy Dec. 10, 1918 2,419,872 Beder Apr. 29, 1947 

